Cheap Flights to Houston

Discover Houston

Cheap Flights to Houston, U.S.A

Why visit Houston?

Texas may have a reputation as a sleepy, laid back state, but Houston is different world. Sure, the people have that southern charm, and that languorous, unhurried way of being, but this city is a first-class, fast-paced, glass-faceted powerhouse. It is a multicultural city of fine dining, excellent museums, wonderful galleries and heritage buildings, but also the financial centre of this huge state. Visiting this city will impress you with its verve, its urbanity, and its unabashed flash.

Things to do in Houston

As the base for much of NASA’s operations, Houston is a treasure trove of science and space museums. Visit the Museum of Natural Science and the awesome Space Center, chocked full of great displays such as the samples of the moon and Mercury, what the astronauts ate in space, and models of the space capsules that flew the very first missions into the big black. Kids will love this museum, as they will be able to try on space helmets and try their hand at the helm of a spacecraft simulator. If you are travelling to the city with children, don’t forget to drop by the Children’s Museum of Houston too, where most of the exhibits are hands-on, educational and a great deal of fun.

This city is also renowned for its arts, and no wonder with two premier arts museums situated in town; the Museum of Fine Arts, which collects ancient art of civilisations from all over the world, and displays some of the finest paintings of the last 100 years, and the Contemporary Arts Museum, which focuses on local and emerging modern artists.

Take a break from the galleries and museums by going to the Kemah Boardwalk, where guests can enjoy the breeze coming off Houston Bay, and go on rides, explore the shops, listen to the music, and eat at popular restaurants.

If you’d like to take advantage of the excellent shopping in this city, there’s no better place than the Galleria, an impressive building in its own right, and home to 400 stores and restaurants, perfect if you need to pick up gifts, or just want to embrace a little retail therapy with some excellent dining options.

Sports nuts will be at home here, with the Toyota Center holding games for the local NBA team, The Rockets. Or find your way to the NRG Stadium and book tickets to see an American football game, a real Texan pastime.

Best time to visit Houston

· February to April, right at the end of the winter and into deep spring is a popular time to visit the city because of a series of festivals, and the delightful highs of 19-26°C.

· Summers in this city can be very muggy and very hot, and whilst almost everywhere has air conditioning, it can be a little uncomfortable to tour the city all day long, especially in heat of about 35°C.

· Hurricane season comes in the fall, and the winters can be pretty cold, dipping to 7°C on very cold days.

Best time to book

· Book about 28 weeks in advance of your holiday and you’ll snag the best deal.

Expect to pay

· United States Dollar (USD).

· Enjoy a hot coffee in this friendly southern town for about 3.80USD ($5).

Arriving in Houston by plane

· Houston has two major airports, the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) which was the primary aviation centre, but has since been downgraded to carry most of the city’s domestic flights. The other, which will welcome international services, including those from Australia, is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Airlines that fly to Houston are Air New Zealand, Air Canada, Air China, American Airlines, Delta, Korean Air, Qantas and United.

· William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is 17km from downtown, and the George Bush Airport (IAH) is 32km from the centre of the city. Both airports have access to WiFi, retail stores, information booths, restaurants, as well as ATMs and currency exchange.

· You will definitely fly via one or two cities on this route from Australia. Typical hubs are Auckland (AKL), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Vancouver (YVR) and Seoul (ICN).

Visa requirements

· The United States allows Australians to forgo a visa in favour of using their new Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). You can be granted a stay in the country of up to 90 days. If you need more details, then head to the Foreign Affairs smart traveller site, which will list the needed requirements, and any pertinent information.

Transportation to city centre

· A taxi journey into downtown from William P. Hobby (HOU) will run you about 26USD ($34), or 52USD ($68) if you are travelling from George Bush Airport (IAH).

· Buses and shuttles can ferry you from the airport into town, or you can sort out an airport transfer online.

· Houston is a car city, and renting a car is easy and affordable through the airport rental agencies or with Skyscanner’s search tool.

Where to stay in Houston

· Downtown is a great area to stay in the city if you like the theatre, ballet or opera. There are also loads of restaurants and bars in the area too.

· South Main is the neighbourhood to book in if you plan to spend a lot of your time in Houston’s fantastic museums.

· Try Montrose and the Heights for the hip, young part of town, with little galleries, and a good night life.

Useful tips before you go

· Tipping is a matter of course in the United States, with 15-20% being the standard amount at restaurants. Tip a couple of dollars to bar staff, or concierge services, and about 10% for taxi drivers.

Please note that the information provided above is accurate as of June 2016